Switch stand



July 24, 1934. s. EASTBURN SWITCH STAND Filed June 13, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR jam?! Z. Easifiurn/ BY Hi5 ATTORN EYS July 24, 1934. s. EASTBURN SWITCH STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13 1931 IVNVENTOR jamufll L EaSZbI ITJL BY HIS ATTORNEYS July 24, 1934.

s. L. EASTBURN SWITCH STAND Filed June 15, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 J u i m @HWIHHIW INVENTOR 5621111401 Z. Easlburn.

BY H/S ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 1934 SWITCH STAND Samuel L. Eastburn, Sloatsburg, N. Y., assignor to Ramapo Ajax Corporation, New York, N, Y., a c po at on oi N w Y Application June 13, 1931, Serial No. 544,177

7 Claims. (Cl. 246,4].1)

The invention relates to railroad track equipment and more particularly to switch stands for operating railway switches.

According to one form which the inventiOn may 5 assume, the switch standmay comprise a single base havin a casin thereon in which is positioned a mechanism f r operating the switch. A sin le handle or operating l v may be pr vi to operate this mechanism, which handle is pivl0 oted to the casing to rotate about a horizontal axis. Mounted also on the base may be a looking device for locking the handle in thrown position. If desired, a separate locking bar may ex.- tend from the switch to the stand and provision may be made for the locking device to also look the locking bar when the switch is thrown to the main line. The locking device may be duplicated upon the other side of the switch stand so that the operating lever may be locked in either thrown position and so that the same switch stand may tions of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by refer.- ringto the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which 1 Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the switch stand with a railroad switch;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the switch stand;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6176 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line YR- 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. .8 is a. section on the line 8+8 of Fig. 3;

and

Fi s.- 9 and 10 are fr m n ary plan vi w and side elevation, respec ive y, f a form of switch stand without the feature of the separate lock- 55 mg bar.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings. In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the main rails of the switch are denoted by 11 and the switch points by 12 These rails rest upon short ties 13 and long ties 14 which also support the switch stand 19 which straddles them. The bars connecting the switch points 12 are denoted by 15 and 16, respectively. The rod connecting the switch stand 19 to the switch points 12 for operating the same is denoted by 17 and the locking bar is denoted by 18.

Referring now also to Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, the switch stand 19 comprises a single base 21 supporting a casing 22 having a removable cover' 122. Pivoted to the casing for movement about a horizontal axis is an operating arm or lever 20 having a weight 120 at the end thereof. Located within the casing 22 is suitable mechanism for operating the connecting rod 1'7 by throwing the lever 20 from one horizontal position to the opposite horizontal position. This movement throws the switch points from, say, the main line position, as indicated in Fig. 1, to the other position. The casing 22 carries a flag or signal 23.

The operating mechanism for throwing the switch may be any of the operating mechanisms which are well known in the art, provided that the movement of the switchpoints 12 is substantially zero when the operating arm 20 approaches either horizontal position. A suitable construction for this purpose is disclosed in Patent No. 1,526,561, patented February 17, 1925, to Whittier Perdue. It will be noted that, due to the construction of the Perdue switch stand, the switch is locked in position when the operating arm is in either horizontal position.

For locking the handle 20 in either horizontal position, locking devices 25 and 26 mounted upon the same base are provided. It will be noted that spike holes, indicated by 24, are provided for securing the switch stand to the longer ties 14. The mounting of the locking device and the switch operating mechanism on the same base requires no less spiking than is required with separate locking devices and operating mechanisms. In the latter instance too many spikes are required, resulting in premature spike killing of the ties.

Since each locking device 25, 26 is similar in construction, the locking device 26 only will be described in detail. The locking device 26 comprises'a plurality" of posts or standards; indicated by 29 and 30, rising from the base 21. Pivoted between the standards 29 is a latch 31, a pivot 35 being provided for this purpose. 31 comprises a locking dog or abutment 33 having a cam surface 32, a foot pedal 36 and counter weight 37, the latter operating in a slot 38 in the post 36. A hole 34 fo-rapadlock (not shown) is also provided to lock the switch stand after the switch is in position. V V V 3 y a The counter weight 37 normally keeps the latch in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 6. It will be understood that, when the operating lever 20 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, it is not necessary to press the pedal 36 because the pressure of the operating lever-20 upon the 'cam'surface 32'will'automatically open the latch and allow the lever 20 to fall to the position shown in Fig. '7. The engagement of the lever 20 against the bottom of the latch recess, indicated by 137, on one side of the center of pivot pin 35, assists in closing the latch 26, helping gravity, to doubly assure proper locking of the latch. To remove the operating lever-20 it is only necessary to depress the pedal 36 with the foot. As soon as the foot is removed, counter weight 37 acts to returnthe latch to closed position.

Secured to the posts 29 and 30is an offset member having aligned openings 27 to accommodate the locking bar 18. The locking bar 18 has a notch 28 which receives the operating lever 20 when it is moved to thrown position. Thus the latch 31" looks the operating member 20 which in turn locks the locking bar 18. When the operating member 20 is thrown to the other position, it is similarly locked by the locking device 25 but no additional'lock is provided for the switch cooperating with the locking bar 18 as the switch is now thrown to the branch position. It is generally only necessary to provide the extra locking means which the locking bar 18 affords when the'switch is thrown to the main line. However, the duplication of the locking devices 25 and-2'6 makes the switch stand 19 available for use'on either side of a switch, the locking bar cooperating with the locking device 25 when the switch stand is used on the other side of the switch from that illustrated. Thus, separateright hand and left hand switch stands are not required. I i

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the base is denoted by "51, the operating member by 50, spike holes by 54: and locking devices by 55' and 56, casing by 52 and target by 53.- The locking devices 55 and 56 have latches 61 which havepedals 66 "and are similar in construction to the'locking devices 25 and 26 exceptthat no provision is made for the extra; locking bar 18. This construction is desirable under certain circumstances when the additional feature of the locking bar is not necessary or desirable. I I

Thus a switch stand is provided having foot latches all mounted on the same base, thus re- The latch account of the notch 28 in looking bar 18 not lining up with operating arm 20.

In addition, the present locking device conveniently provides a triple locking feature, the operating lever locking the switch, the latch additionally locking the operating lever, and the additional locking bar locking the switch when it is thrown to the main line position-. Furthermore, the provision of all the locking deviceson the same base with the operating mechanism provides always proper alignment between these parts even though the spikes are loose and allow thestand to move on the ties.

While certain novel features of the invention have been. disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from :the. spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: t v

1. Ina switchstand, a'single base, {operating mechanism on said basefor'throwing the switch, a lever controlling said mechanism, separate right handand left hand locking devices also on said base for locking said lever either thrown position, right and left hand guides on said base, and a locking bar in'one of said guides and locked in position by a locking device, said locking bar extending to the switch independently of said operating mechanism; I I

2. In a switch stand, a single base, an operating lever pivoted to said base, mechanism on said base and controlled by said operating lever to operate a switch, a locking device: on said base to lock said operating lever in thrown position and comprising a latch member pivoted to swing transversely. .to said operating lever,'said operating lever and latch member having. interengaging parts, a locking bar adapted to extend to the switch, a guide on said base for saidlocking bar, said locking bar. and said operating lever also having interengaging parts.f

3. In a switch stand, a single base,' a casing on said base, an operating lever pivoted'to said casing, mechanism in said casing controlled by'said operating lever to operate a switch, 'a right hand locking device and a left hand locking device on said. base to lock said operating lever in either thrown position, each locking device. comprising .a latch member pivotedto said base, to swing transversely tosaid oper'atinglever and having a foot pedaLa lockingudog. and counterweight, said locking dog having a cam surface, a locking bar adapted toextend to theswitch', and .a guide for said locking bar, said locking bar and operat-E ing lever having interengaging parts. 1 n

i. In a switch stand, a single. base, a casing on said base, an-operating lever pivoted tosaid casing to swing about a horizontal axis,.mechanism insaidcasing controlled :by said operating leverto operate a switch, a right. hand locking device and a left hand locking. device-on said base to lock said operating leverin either substantially horizontal thrown position, each locking device comprising upstanding spaced posts l between which said operating -arm .rests, a.latch member pivoted. to swing transversely to said operating lever and having a foot pedal, a locking dog and counter weight, said lockingdoghaving a cam surface and a padlock hole, a guide :for a locking" bar, and a single locking bar having a notchin which said operating lever rests, said locking bar being slidable in one of said guides only and being adapted to extend to the switch.

5. In a foot latch for a switch stand", a base member having a slot opening upwardly, a bar member movable into and out of said slot, a latch member disposed transversely of said slot, pivot means connecting said latch member and base member under said slot, said latch member having a foot pedal on one side of said slot and a counterweight on the other to normally hold said latch member in closed position, said latch member having a projecting dog member provided with an upper cam face, said dog member overlying said bar member when the latter is in locked position, said latch member having a lower cam surface adapted to be engaged by said bar member to assist in moving said latch member to closed position. I

6. In a switch stand, a single base, a casing on said base containing operating mechanism for operating the switch, a hand lever pivoted in said casing about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the track, separate right and left hand locking devices also on said base, each said locking device having an upwardly extending recess to receive the hand lever, a foot latch pivoted about a horizontal axis parallel tothe track and having a dog adapted to overlie said hand lever, a pedal portion projecting away from the track, right and left hand guides also on said base, and a locking bar in one of said guides only and locked in position by the adjoining locking devices, said looking bar extending to the switch independently of said operating mechanism.

'7. In a locking device for a switch stand, a base member having a slot opening upwardly, an operating handle movable into and out of said slot, a latch member disposed transversely of the slot, a pivot connecting said latch member and said base member, said latch member having a projecting dog member adapted to overlie the operating handle when the latter is in locked position, said latch member also having a foot pedal, a guide also mounted on said base member disposed alongside said pivot, a locking bar adapted to connect with the switch disposed in said guide, said locking bar having a recess engageable with said operating handle when the latter is in locked position.

SAMUEL L. EASTBURN. 

